After diarrhoea last week, 15 jaundice cases reported

After diarrhoea hit a few areas of the city last week, cases of jaundice have now surfaced in the Bhojowal Patti Mohalla in Chuggiti locality. As many as 15 people were found suffering from the water-borne disease on Monday.

While the health department claimed that only seven cases were reported from this locality, many others have been found to be suffering from the disease. Three patients have also been rushed to the civil hospital in a serious condition.

Residents have blamed contaminated water that was being supplied for the last week or so for the outbreak and claimed that the municipal corporation had failed to correct faults in the pipelines due to which the water must have become contaminated.

Sensing unrest, the health department sent health teams into the locality which carried out door-to-door surveys on Thursday and distributed 6,000 chlorine tablets among residents to purify drinking water. The teams visited 262 houses and surveyed almost 1,190 of the total population.

The teams also took two water samples from the locality and sent them for lab tests. The reports will be out in two days’ time.

The health department has also organised medical camps in the area and distributed medicines among residents. The HT team visited the area and found contaminated water being supplied at several houses.

A patient, Mohinder Pal, 35, said he was suffering from jaundice and despite taking medicines from the local medical hall, there was no improvement in his condition. He said sand particles were present in the water being supplied at home.

Ram Lal, 46, his wife Usha, 42, and Vijay were also suffering from the same disease and took medicines from the medical camp.

Another resident, Kuldeep Kaur said contaminated water supply was a recurring problem in the locality, but despite raising the issue with the authorities, no steps were taken.

Civil surgeon RL Bassan said only seven jaundice cases had been detected in the locality and that blood samples of patients had been acquired to ascertain whether jaundice occurred due to contaminated water or any other reason. “Prima facie, contaminated water supply is being seen as the reason for the disease outbreak,” Bassan added.

“I have written to the corporation to send a team to check faults in the water supply so that clean and potable water can be supplied to residents,” said Bassan.

He said in Bhargo camp, three were found to be suffering from nausea, loose motions and abdominal pain and administered medicines.

In May, Valmiki Mohalla in Chuggiti locality had also been affected by jaundice after as many as 29 people were found suffering from the disease.